For a long, heavy moment, no one moved and no one spoke.Pa Marion’s body had stopped convulsing. His limbs lay still and his eyes remained shut. His chest rose so faintly that one could only see it by staring closely, hoping to catch the smallest shift beneath the blanket.The air in the room thickened with dread. Silence pressed down like a weight, swallowing every thought and every whisper.Louis slowly lowered the phone he had been holding to call the police. His brow furrowed in confusion and the anger on his face gave way to fear. “What… what just happened?” he muttered.Rica’s sobs died on her lips, replaced with a strangled gasp. “He… he’s stilled,” she whispered, stepping forward weakly. Her voice cracked, “Oh God… is he gone? Did he… is he dead?”Jessica’s breath caught in her throat and her heart pounded painfully against her ribs. She felt her knees weaken beneath her, forcing her to grip the foot of the bed for support. “Grandpa…” she whispered shakily as her eyes f

Nathaniel stood frozen at the bottom of the staircase, his eyes locked onto the scene unfolding above. Jessica was in Brandon’s arms—literally. She had stumbled, Brandon had caught her, and now they were staring into each other’s eyes like two people who had forgotten the world existed.Nathaniel saw the closeness and the way Jessica’s breath hitched. She even, almost kissed him.What the hell?!A sharp, cold shock stabbed through him.Jessica? His Jessica? Leaning toward Brandon?Jealousy surged through him so violently he had to grip the railing to steady himself. His jaw clenched as he watched them. Rage flashed through him, but he forced it down, swallowing the emotion like bitter poison.Not now, he told himself. Not here in front of the Marion family.He needed to control himself. Exploding now would only expose his hand too early.When Jessica pulled back from Brandon, Nathaniel kept his face carefully composed, as though nothing had happened.He went into Pa Marion’s room

The morning sun was just beginning to peek through the sheer curtains of Jessica’s room. Her eyes fluttered open, still heavy with sleep, but that fragile serenity shattered the moment her phone buzzed insistently on the nightstand beside her. The sharp, urgent vibration jolted her fully awake.The screen displayed the name of a servant she knew to be loyal and precise, someone who rarely called unless it was truly necessary. Hesitation flickered for a brief second in her mind, but the unmistakable urgency in the buzzing made her answer immediately.“Miss Marion! Please, you must come to the mansion immediately,” the servant blurted, almost breathless. “There’s good news, but I can’t tell you over the phone. You need to come right now. Everyone is already seated and waiting for you.”Jessica’s brow furrowed in confusion, her pulse quickening. “Good news? What is it? Why can’t you tell me? What’s happening?” Her voice carried both curiosity and an undercurrent of concern, betrayin

“What do you mean a prelude to my marriage to Nathaniel?” Jessica asked, her voice trembling with disbelief. “Mother, is this a dream?” Before Rica could answer, Nathaniel himself stepped forward from where he’d been speaking to Jessica’s uncle. His polished shoes clicked softly against the marble floor, drawing even more eyes to him. His whole appearance seemed to fit seamlessly into the event.He gave Jessica a warm, deliberate smile. “Jessica, I know this must be sudden—”“Sudden?” Jessica repeated, her heartbeat hammering so loudly she could barely hear him. The word echoed in her chest like a warning bell.“Jessica,” Rica said firmly, stepping closer, "your uncles and I have discussed things with the Collins, and we all agreed. You and Nathaniel will be bonded today, officially. A formal union ceremony, announcing your engagement. It is the perfect time, and everyone important is already present.”Jessica felt as though the floor dropped out from beneath her feet. For a mo

The room was silent at first. Then—slowly, the whispers began. “What just happened?”“Is she mad?”“Did she really just walk out like that?”“She embarrassed her entire family—”“What a disgrace…”Nathaniel heard everything.And each one poured more gasoline on the fire already blazing in his chest. He had spent weeks—weeks—arranging this. Silently coordinating with Rica behind Jessica’s back, planning every step.He had secured a hall. Had the decorations arranged by top-tier designers. Brought representatives from both families. Ordered expensive refreshments, flown in from three different states. Brought gifts that cost more than some people earned in an entire year. He had even planned the color of the napkins to match Jessica’s favorite shade of champagne gold.Everything had been perfectly planned, with Nathaniel believing Jessica would finally accept him upon seeing both families gathered—but, to his surprise, she simply walked away.Jessica Marion had dared—dared—to humi